Breakfast at Meritus Pelangi's Spice Restaurant is a gustatory, if not a cultural delight. Malay, Indian, Chinese and western foods are plentiful , boasting an abundant smorgasbord of east meets east fare. The restaurant looks chic and stylish with its dark wooden ceilings, birdcage shaped timber beams and its antique and catchy handicrafts adorned nooks and crannies. Although food choices are plenty, it is not overwhelming , with many items changing daily . Here's just a glimpse of what this restaurant offers.
Bread in all forms and sizes. From Danish pastries, muffins , doughnuts to Malaysian Rotis. If you like you carbs as much I do, this is the corner to go.
Seasonal fruits are aplenty. Noodle and egg stations are making fresh treats at guest's request. There are enough warm ,cooked dishes such as rendang ( bottom left), mee goreng ( bottom right) to choose from. The typical Malaysian breakfast Nasi Lamak and Roti canai are also ever-present at the breakfast buffet.
My breakfast. Roti Canai with lentil and chicken curry A traditional Malaysian breakfast with buttery , pastry-like pancake which are cooked on a griddle. I had
And slices of tropical fruits to end the meal.
After a satisfying breakfast, FF and I squeeze our flabby hides into our swimsuits. Then, we scare the children off the kiddie pool so we could take turns getting splashed by a giant bucket . It was damn boring ! So we did it again..and again..and again. Until, the number of curious little faces are getting too much to ignore . We gave up pretending we're 4. We retreated back to the adult pool, where sensible adults belong. Deeper, wider, no tipping giant buckets and undeniably less as fun. Spent 2 hours burning that roti canai. FF swimming and me waddling since I can't swim...Don't ask.
Lunch was cheap. It was an nondescript little restaurant along Pentai Cenang street. We were more thirsty than hungry, FF gulped down 2 SMB before we're done eating. The Prawns on my Char Kuay Teow look bigger and merrier on the picture menu. Copy right issues? Taste wise, it was ok and a tad bit greasy. Thankfully, I like greasy foods. Yay!
FF's lunch was Indian chicken and vegetable curry served with Naan bread. The bread was dry, dense and almost ciabatta-like, don't look and taste remotely like Naan Bread should be. My first try , home-made Naan tasted better! Uhurm, recipe coming up, if ever someone's interested. The vegetable is as mushy as it looks but the chicken tasted good. Not the best meal we had but it was filling. Now we know why the restaurant was empty .
We were contemplating on hitting the beach, purposely ignored multiple warning signs of Jellyfish. However, after almost tripping over a football sized one, we decided stay off the sea, not overly keen to meet tiny jellyfish babies looking for its washed ashore and drying, hardening mommy.
We decided to have an island tour. FF hailed a taxi, driven by a local named Din. He is about about 60, reliable, punctual and kinda sweet. He laughs a lot, especially at his own joke , which we don't get most of the time. His English was not that good , often switches to Malay mid sentence when he gets too animated. But, we get along pretty well, plus he brought us to places we wish to be. He's funny , even if his humor less so.He usually bursts into a fit of laughter after finishing a sentence. To be polite ,we tried laughing with him. Hah! Hah! Hah! FF and I bark awkwardly while trying to look less bewildered at why were laughing . Needless to say, it was exhausting. We hired him for 2 days, each trip last about 4 hours, costing 120 ringgit. I reckon, we could haggle, but I like supporting hard working people like him so I stick to the price and gave him a tip. Support local economy, gain a friend. That's how I like my holiday. You would be surprise how far, few euros could go.
We decided to have an island tour. FF hailed a taxi, driven by a local named Din. He is about about 60, reliable, punctual and kinda sweet. He laughs a lot, especially at his own joke , which we don't get most of the time. His English was not that good , often switches to Malay mid sentence when he gets too animated. But, we get along pretty well, plus he brought us to places we wish to be. He's funny , even if his humor less so.He usually bursts into a fit of laughter after finishing a sentence. To be polite ,we tried laughing with him. Hah! Hah! Hah! FF and I bark awkwardly while trying to look less bewildered at why were laughing . Needless to say, it was exhausting. We hired him for 2 days, each trip last about 4 hours, costing 120 ringgit. I reckon, we could haggle, but I like supporting hard working people like him so I stick to the price and gave him a tip. Support local economy, gain a friend. That's how I like my holiday. You would be surprise how far, few euros could go.
Anyway, our island tour started off at 2 in the afternoon, which was a mistake since the heat was rather harsh. Only the abundance sun screen lotion , preventing us from burning to a crisp. Tip: Have enough of those at hand and something to drink. From a Pentai Cenang, we went to Kuah, Langkawi's main town.
First stop: The Eagle Square or Dataran Lang.
The 12 -meter Sculpture of the reddish brown eagle is symbol of Langkawi. It sits on an elevated, star shape platform. The square is located near Kuah Jetty, offering a view of the bay . It covers a 19-acres area featuring some fountains, ponds, a covered pavilions with cafes and souvenir shops selling Ray-Bams eyewears , Hardly Rock shirts , Loius Vuittom, Guccii, Parda, Channel2 5 7 , Blueberry knock offs and many others things, tourist might me interested in. We don't want to exchange numbers with German Customs officers on our way home so we skipped that .
Next Stop: Legenda Park
Legenda park or the Park of the Legends is just a short walk away from the Eagle Square. Malaysians, love their folklores and myths and this 50-acre park is a proof to that. Amidst the lush scenic gardens , artificial ponds and backdrop of traditional Malaysian buildings, are several monuments, each has a story to tell. The legends are craved on a stone for curious and interested visitors to read.
Thunderous fight between Mat Raya and Mat Cinchang being intervened by a common fwend.
I'm not a great story teller but I'll try to give one of local legends of Langkawi a go. This is the story of how Kuah town was born.
A long, long time ago, there lived 2 formidable giant warriors named, Mat Raya and Mat Chincang. They're BFF by the way, and to strengthen their bond, they play match makers and marry off their son and daughter . After all, blood's thicker than water. Anyway, on the eve of their children's wedding, Mat Raya saw his son- in -law ogling the bridesmaid ( or something) and started bitching . Well, Mat Chincang is not having any of those. So hell broke lose. Testosterone , fists and gigantic cooking wares went flying all over the place as the mighty giants fought, resulting to spillage of a pot of gravy, among other things. Reality slap ( or something) from common friend and the two warriors came to their senses. As a sign of remorse for ruining their kids' big day , the squabbling giants turned themselves into, what to yo know, mountains! The town that was spilled by the overturned pot of gravy was name, Kuah ,meaning gravy in Malay. Too literal but makes sense, don't you think? Anyway, Gunung Raya and Gunung Cincang are two of the highest mountains of Langkawi. The best friends turned worst enemies turned mountains are still trapped in their petrified forms , silently watching over Langkawi and throws occasional heated glares at each other's direction ( Ok I made the last one up! Sorry!). The End.
Third stop. Durian Pelangin Waterfall
First stop: The Eagle Square or Dataran Lang.
The 12 -meter Sculpture of the reddish brown eagle is symbol of Langkawi. It sits on an elevated, star shape platform. The square is located near Kuah Jetty, offering a view of the bay . It covers a 19-acres area featuring some fountains, ponds, a covered pavilions with cafes and souvenir shops selling Ray-Bams eyewears , Hardly Rock shirts , Loius Vuittom, Guccii, Parda, Channel
Next Stop: Legenda Park
Legenda park or the Park of the Legends is just a short walk away from the Eagle Square. Malaysians, love their folklores and myths and this 50-acre park is a proof to that. Amidst the lush scenic gardens , artificial ponds and backdrop of traditional Malaysian buildings, are several monuments, each has a story to tell. The legends are craved on a stone for curious and interested visitors to read.
I'm not a great story teller but I'll try to give one of local legends of Langkawi a go. This is the story of how Kuah town was born.
A long, long time ago, there lived 2 formidable giant warriors named, Mat Raya and Mat Chincang. They're BFF by the way, and to strengthen their bond, they play match makers and marry off their son and daughter . After all, blood's thicker than water. Anyway, on the eve of their children's wedding, Mat Raya saw his son- in -law ogling the bridesmaid ( or something) and started bitching . Well, Mat Chincang is not having any of those. So hell broke lose. Testosterone , fists and gigantic cooking wares went flying all over the place as the mighty giants fought, resulting to spillage of a pot of gravy, among other things. Reality slap ( or something) from common friend and the two warriors came to their senses. As a sign of remorse for ruining their kids' big day , the squabbling giants turned themselves into, what to yo know, mountains! The town that was spilled by the overturned pot of gravy was name, Kuah ,meaning gravy in Malay. Too literal but makes sense, don't you think? Anyway, Gunung Raya and Gunung Cincang are two of the highest mountains of Langkawi. The best friends turned worst enemies turned mountains are still trapped in their petrified forms , silently watching over Langkawi and throws occasional heated glares at each other's direction ( Ok I made the last one up! Sorry!). The End.
Third stop. Durian Pelangin Waterfall
We went back to Din and his taxi. Seeing our flush , sweaty faces, he turned his air condition to a full blast. I told you, he is a sweet guy. I asked him to bring us to a waterfall and to a waterfall we went. Did not know I have to climb 41 million steep steps to get there! Well, that how it feels like, at least. I stop counting halfway through , concentrated on breathing and not tipping over the rocky terrain instead. I was expecting a big , raging waterfall when I got hyperventilating on top. The sight that greeted us almost made me cry... Huwat?! That's it?! I look taller than that! And where's the water?! Looking at the steep steps down made me want to cry some more. I have fear of heights. Great! Crawling at a turtle pace, FF and I manage to reach a smiling , well rested Din on the flat ground with throbbing knees but without a scratch.
Din: No big water?
FF: No, it was disappointing.
Din: Long time not raining, lah. Water dry! hahahaha
FF and me: Hah! Huh?
Din: You drink waterfall ?
Me : Err should we?
Din: Yes! Makes strong! No more sick, lah! Hahahaha
FF and me: Hah! Huh?
Fanciful thoughts of dissolved kidney stones, cured endometriosis and sturdy spine run through my mind. But then, HD images of diarrhea and of me running to the toilet that night stopped me from hiking back up again.
Din: One more waterfall?
Me: Do we have to climb up again to reach it?
Din: YeS! More! Hahahaha
FF and Me: No, thank you.
Last Stop: Oriental Village
Last stop before calling it a day. The Oriental village. It boast cafes and restaurants, souvenir shops with more authentically copied designer wears, Spa, animal and wheeled rides and a hotel. It is also the starting point of Langkawi Cable car rides. Just your typical tourist trap spot to kill some time and burn some cash. We did not stay long. Needless to say, it was out least favourite stop of the day. Just as a reminder, forget coming here for dinner, all restaurants and cafes were already close when we arrive here , around 6:20 PM.
Din was kind enough to drive us around the area and show us the way leading to the Seven Wells waterfall, one of the biggest in Langkawi. He drove us back to the hotel after that, after promising to pick us up around 3 in the afternoon the next day for another adventure tour. After a cherry adios , we were practically dragging our tired feet to our room. After a refreshing shower, I throw myself gratefully into our gigantic bed and snored away.
Dinner was at Putomayo and was fantastic! Light was low and outside dinning option was romantic but really dim, so excuse me for the hazy picture. It did not do the food some justice. FF and I feasted on tangy , green mango salad, generous portion of soft shell crab, chicken dish and huge prawns in spoon lickin' good sauce!To end the meal, FF and I share deep fried ice cream. It was certainly as sweet as it looks. I heart it! Was a nice way to end our day.
